Circular Economy

What is the Circular Economy ?

THE LINEAR ECONOMY: A MODEL THAT IS RUNNING OUT OF STEAM

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, a pattern of production has prevailed that is based on a linear model (extraction – production – consumption – disposal). This model calls for resources in abundance.

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: A POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE

Thanks to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation for the videos.

The circular Economy proposes an alternative model, based on a more efficient use of resources. Its particular feature is that it transforms waste into raw materials. It distinguishes between the biological and the technical cycles.

Nevertheless, the Circular Economy is much more than just an ever-increasing recycling effort. It has broader horizons and lays stress on new ways of designing, marketing and consumption. It aims, for example, at prolonging the life of products both through ecological design, repair and re-use, and by promoting the idea that satisfaction can be had from using rather than simply possessing things.

OUR COMMITMENT

Ever since it was set up in 2002, the Blavet, Bellevue and Ocean Grouping of Municipalities (CCBBO), to which Sainte Hélène belongs, has been very involved in reducing waste. It has always had an energetic waste prevention plan. In 2012, the CCBBO was one of the first areas to introduce an incentive scheme for local taxes on household waste. The population has made a great effort in this direction and this has led to the community being among the top 20 areas in France for waste prevention.

To make even more progress, to reduce the quantity of waste taken to dumps and to get more businessmen in the area to become involved, the CCBBO has made a commitment to develop the circular economy: one man’s waste may be another man’s resource, even at a local level.

The Grouping of Municipalities has also decided to tender for the project; « Zero waste, zero wastage » that is being offered by the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, which has acknowledged the CCBBO’s ambition.

THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPLIED TO THE CRADLE TO CRADLE SCHOOL PROJECT

The Circular Economy is central to the project. It consists of doing away with waste, building only with non-toxic materials that can be recycled over and over again or that could be returned to the environment without polluting it. The municipality of Sainte Hélène has opted to build an environmentally positive structure that presents no danger to the health of staff or children. It will be a genuine teaching aid.